[Coral-List] Re: NH4 conc. in aquarium water

[Szmant, Alina]

FYI, 20 ppm when you divide by 14 (atomic weight of N) = 1.4 uM NH4+ which is high for oceanic waters unless there is on-going upwelling (usually of nitrate) but not  for coastal waters even without anthropogenic activities.  In a report by Atkinson et al for corals growing in the Waikiki Aquarium they had corals growing gang-busters at 5 uM nitate and ammonium (but high CO2 levels).  Nutrient levels on coral reefs around the world are quite variable (Szmant Estuaries, 2002; available of my web page).  Unless nutrient levels are quite high (10 to 20 uM = 140 to 280 ppm) there is little evidence that nutrients in the 1-5 uM range are harmful to coral physiology (I mean lots of species not just a single species).   This is controversial of course, but at the RSMAS, Univ of Miami we cultered a dozen species of corals for years in Biscayne Bay water with elevated nutrient levels and they did very well and reproduced.  We only had porblems when salinities dropped below 30 ppt (bad rainstorms) or temperatures dropped real low (<20 oC).  Most of the nutrient effects on corals and coral reefs occur at the ecosystem level when herbivory is decreased by overfishing and herbivore die-offs.
 
Season's Greetings
 
Alina Szmant
 
*******************************************************************
Dr. Alina M. Szmant
Coral Reef Research Group
UNCW-Center for Marine Science 
5600 Marvin K. Moss Ln
Wilmington NC 28409
Tel: (910)962-2362 & Fax:  (910)962-2410
Cell:  (910)200-3913
email:  szmanta at uncw.edu
Web Page:  http://people.uncw.edu/szmanta
******************************************************************

________________________________

From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov on behalf of Tom Williams
Sent: Mon 12/26/2005 12:57 PM
To: Angus Macdonald; coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: [Coral-List] Re: NH4 conc. in aquarium water



Angus, others.

Sorry about the following but I am not familar with
the aquarium worlds.

Could you provide some of the "lot" references for
ammonia NH4 being 20ppm for coral propagation as these
levels far exceed the levels accepted for discharge of
treated sewage effluent to marine waters. 

Are these levels acceptable for aquaria only ?? - I
believe they would stimulate alot of alga in the tank
or real water.

Dr. Tom Williams

--- Angus Macdonald <angus at ori.org.za> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> 
>
> A lot has been published about optimal NH4
> concentration in aquaria in which
> coral is propagated. 20 ppm seems to be about right.
> Is this in the right
> ballpark and does it become toxic to hard or soft
> corals at higher
> concentrations?
>
> 
>
> Thanks
>
> 
>
> 
>
> Angus Macdonald
>
> 
>
> Oceanographic Research Institute
>
> uShaka Marine World
>
> Point Road
>
> Durban
>
> (031) 328 8168
>
> 
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>

_______________________________________________
Coral-List mailing list
Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list